Congratulations to Ashley Cruz who on Monday, March 24, 2025, successfully defended her dissertation. The title of Ashley’s dissertation is: UNVEILING RACISM: A CRITICAL PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF BLACK STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES IN PREDOMINANTLY WHITE SUBURBAN HIGH SCHOOLS.
This critical phenomenological qualitative study explored the lived experiences of Black students attending predominantly White suburban high schools. Grounded in Critical Race Theory (CRT), the study amplified Black students’ voices to reveal the racialized challenges they continue to face within educational spaces. Through semistructured interviews, the research examined how Black students navigated issues of systemic racism, social belonging, identity struggle, and covert racism. Key themes included academic opportunities, social isolation, code-switching, and the intersectionality of race with other forms of identities. Findings highlighted the persistence of racial inequities despite diversity and inclusion efforts, emphasizing the need for culturally responsive educational practices. By centering student counter-narratives, this study challenges dominant discourses and calls for systemic changes to create more equitable learning environments.
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE CHAIR(S):
Dr. Joanne Marien
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE MEMBER(S):
Dr. Martin Fitzgerald
Dr. Blanca Ruiz-William
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